Weekly roundup: Who will become a state champion?

By Tyler Heffernan

Austin Clark, wing back on the Wando rugby club team, races down the sideline during the Warriors’ state championship match against Chapin. PHOTO PROVIDED

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Davis Strobel was awarded the “Man of the Match” award. He’s also holding the runner-up plate trophy.

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Jeanne Stroud (right), Bishop England alumna and Winthrop track and field athlete, after the conference championship meet. She earned awards for Most Outstanding Athlete and Scholar Athlete of the Year.

Bishop England

Jeanne Stroud, a Bishop England alumna and current Winthrop distance runner, continues to have a stellar collegiate career. The junior was named the Big South Conference's Scholar Athlete of the Year and this season's Most Outstanding Track Performer among female athletes.

The scholar-athlete award is her second after receiving it – as voted on by the league's sports information directors – in cross country and last season's indoor track.

She has a 3.958 GPA as an English major, according to a Winthrop news release. The major awards came on the heels of a record-breaking performance in the conference outdoor championships meet two weeks ago in the 5,000 meter run.

Her time was 16:59.40, which broke the facility record at Liberty and Big South Championships meet record. Stroud now turns her attention to the NCAA East Preliminary event at North Caroline A&T, May 23-25.

“Jeanne is emerging as a force going into postseason competition,” Eagles head coach Ben Paxton said in the release. “While winning the 10k and 5k this week, Jeanne ran conservatively in the first part of both races before accelerating to take commanding victories.”

Palmetto Christian

The Palmetto Christian Academy boys and girls track and field teams prepared for the SCISA 1A/2A state championship meet with a tune up this past Wednesday in the qualifier.

RUGBY

The Wando rugby club team lost in the state championship to Chapin, April 20, 24-0. Chapin is ranked the No. 12 team in the nation.

The Warriors trailed 7-0 at halftime and were unable to bring the score any closer after intermission. “Everyone played their hearts out. It was a very even match, and with a few luckier bounces, the result could have been different,” coach Tod Shepherd said in a provided post-game report. “It was an effort the players will remember for the rest of their lives.”

Shepherd repeatedly praised the efforts of his team against the national powerhouse. Defensively, Wando emphasized blitzing to provoke chaos against Chapin threats.

“We had our chances to score, but just couldn't finish. Chapin is a good team and deserved of the win,” Shepherd added. “They tackled well and made fewer critical mistakes than we did.”

GOLF

Palmetto Christian

The Palmetto Christian Academy grabbed fourth place at the SCISA 2A state championship. Sophomore Chris DeMarco finished two strokes off the lead for individual honors.

DeMarco and lone senior Greg Malone were awarded with all-region honors. The Eagles came in third in their region, qualifying them for a berth in the All Regions/All Classifications tournament in Conway, where they grabbed fourth place of 13 teams, while improving their team total by more than a 100 strokes from last season.

DeMarco was the individual runner-up among 2A players with a 2-day total of 152 (77-75). The high finish earned him a spot in the Jimmy Self Invitational, which is held in Greenwood, June 8-9.

“This season was very gratifying both on and off the course,” coach Dewey Caulder said, “as the boys not only improved physically and with their ability to manage the golf course with their shotmaking.”

LACROSSE

The Lowcountry headlined the 4A girls lacrosse all-state selection. Wando's Sierra Armstrong and Kendra Blackstock topped the lists as Goalie of the Year and Defender of the Year, respectively. That also qualifies them as first-team selections.

Bishop England placed three first-team players: Elena Bosco at attack, Isabel Burnett at midfielder and Caitlyn Greenho at defender. Hunter Leckonby, of Academic Magnet, also made the list at midfield.

The Battling Bishops added three more players to the all-state second team: Taylor Kennington at attack, Jordan Mitchell at midfielder and Carolyn Roberts at defender. Wando midfielders Christian Oliver and Alyssa Smith also received second-team recognition.

SOCCER

Academic Magnet

The Academic Magnet girls soccer team finishes its regular season slate this week with a Thursday finale at Wando.

The Raptors (19-2, 7-0 Region 6), the top 2A program in the state, had its game against 4A West Ashley postponed this past Monday. They'll face the Warriors for the second time in as many weeks, after dropping the first meeting, 2-1.

The Academic Magnet (12-2, 6-0) boys soccer team could not play Fort Dorchester this past Monday night due to weather. The Raptors face Wando in a rematch opportunity on Thursday. The Raptors were edged by Wando, 2-1, a week ago in their attempt to knock off the top-ranked program in the country for spring soccer.

Wando

The Wando girls soccer team hosts West Ashley Wednesday night and then Academic Magnet, Thursday night, capping a challenging stretch of nine scheduled games in 10 days to close the regular season.

The Warriors (12-1-1, 5-0-0) could not play 4A Region 7 opponent Cane Bay Monday night due to weather, and then had a rematch the following night. That game was completed after the Moultrie News went to press.

The Wando boys soccer team remained unbeaten, and largely unchallenged, this regular season. At a perfect 19-0 overall and 7-0 in region action, the Warriors have had a winning margin of one goal only four times this year. Other times, they've won by margins of 11, nine and seven.

Wando traveled to Cane Bay, Tuesday night for a region match, and then hosts Academic Magnet on Thursday.

Bishop England

The Bishop England girls soccer team faces James Island Charter, Wednesday, in hopes of ending the regular season on a winning streak. The Battling Bishops (10-6, 5-1) defeated Cane Bay a week ago, 6-0, and played region opponent Ridgeland Tuesday night after press time.

Prior to those contests, Bishop England had faced Wando, Academic Magnet and Christ Church – a gauntlet of elite state programs.

The Bishop England boys soccer team faced Ridgeland in a make-up game this past Tuesday night after the April 11 scheduled game was rained out. It was the regular season and region finale for the 13-7-1 overall and 4-1 region Battling Bishops.

TENNIS

East Cooper high school varsity tennis programs began their quest for state titles Tuesday night after the Moultrie News went to press.

Wando opened its 4A bracket with a match against Fort Dorchester, Bishop England began its 2A slate and Palmetto Christian Academy hosted St. Andrew's in the SCISA state semifinal.

On the other end of the SCISA bracket, Spartanburg Day and Marlboro battled for the right to play in Friday's final.

SOFTBALL

Bishop England

The Bishop England softball team's game against Wade Hampton Monday night in the 2A District 6 playoffs was rained out.

The Battling Bishops beat Wade Hampton in the opening round, 12-1, before losing to Silver Bluff, 6-0. If they advance, they will have to beat Silver Bluff twice to advance in the Lower State playoffs.

The Wando softball team hosts the 4A District 7 final, Wednesday, against the winner of Beaufort/Lexington.

The Warriors have already defeated both of those teams by a combined score of 9-0, so either opponent would have to beat them twice in order to advance.

BASEBALL

Wando

After losing to Beaufort and defeating North Augusta in the first round of the 4A state playoffs, the Wando baseball team tried to knock off West Florence to remain in playoff contention. That game was postponed Monday.

Bishop England

The Bishop England baseball team awaits the winner of Bamberg-Ehrhardt/Silver Bluff, which played Tuesday night. The Bishops defeated both teams in the first two District 5 2A rounds already.

Either of those teams would have to beat Bishop England twice to advance in the Lower State postseason.

“Follow” reporter Tyler Heffernan on Twitter @TylerHeff for continued sports coverage, as East Cooper high school varsity teams continue their quest for state championships. Email stats, scores, recaps, pictures and video to theffernan@moultrienews.com.

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